The Dogana, Venice 1914

Muirhead Bone created "The Dogana, Venice" as an etching on paper. Bone, as a Scot, captures Venice during a period when it had become a popular destination for artists and tourists alike. This print depicts the Dogana, or customs house, bustling with maritime activity. Venice, with its intricate network of canals, has always been a center of trade and cultural exchange. Bone's choice to depict this scene reflects his interest in the working life of the city. The details in the boats and buildings emphasize the craftsmanship and labor of the Venetian people. The print invites us to reflect on Venice's layered history, where the beauty of its architecture and the daily lives of its inhabitants intersect. It portrays the emotional connection between a city and its people. It is an engagement with both the place and its cultural identity.